WATERCOOLER

Sunday

YOU'VE BEEN SWAYED: Why do rational people do irrational things, like keeping plummeting stock or staying in a doomed relationship?

Brothers Ori and Rom Brafman examine the psychology behind such behavior, in business and in life, in their recently published book ''Sway: The Irresistible Pull of Irrational Behavior.''

The book looks at extreme examples of inexplicable behavior, like a veteran airline pilot who attempts to take off without control tower clearance and collides with another plane. The book also focuses on group dynamics, in which visual perception is distorted by the opinions of others. In one study, a participant is coaxed by others in the room to believe that a rope is a shorter length than another, despite its appearance.

People are most often swayed because of roles they are ascribed, especially in the workplace, according to Ori Brafman. This affects their performance.

''There have been studies in which people perform better on tests when their managers think they are more intelligent, regardless of how intelligent they really are,'' Ori Brafman said. ''Obviously this happens in all of our relationships, but it's something we don't realize we do. It's amazing how easily people are drawn into irrational decisions without even being aware that it's happening.''

THE VIRTUAL WATERCOOLER: Nothing beats chitchatting with colleagues around the watercooler. But as companies go national and global, and employees increasingly telecommute from home, the conversation hub may run the risk of becoming extinct in some offices.

That's why outsourcing and consulting firm Accenture Ltd. has just launched a virtual watercooler that it hopes will serve as a model for other companies, according to the company's director of corporate programs, Armelle Carminati.

The online forum allows employees to upload dialogue, personal pictures and videos, and work-related projects. It's accessible only from within the company but is similar to online social networking Web sites. So far, the site is geared specifically for women, Carminati said.

''This is a great way for people from around the world to get to know one another and talk about the things that matter to them - not just personal things, but career questions and insights,'' Carminati said. ''In some ways it may be better than standing around an actual watercooler, because these may be topics that would not naturally come up in conversation necessarily.''

FUTURE WORKPLACE TRENDS: Four-day workweeks and no more cubicles - could this be the future of the workplace?

Job placement consultancy Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc. recently released a list of workplace predictions that reflect the evolution of technology and rising cost of health care and energy.

They include:

The end of business travel. Rising airfares and pressure to become environmentally responsible could drive corporations to opt for teleconferencing rather than sending employees on frequent business trips.

Four-day workweeks. Given the rise of gas prices and the availability of portable technology, four-day weeks could become a new standard for corporate America.

No more cubicles. Employers are increasingly replacing confined cubicles with common areas, conference tables and community workspaces to promote interaction and teamwork. With employers using laptops and moving space to space, flexible designs will also benefit telecommuters who work in the office sporadically.

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